FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

Handbook for Graduate Studies in

Theology

2009-10



1



INDEX

1. PEOPLE, PLACES AND INSTITUTIONS IN OXFORD
REGISTRATION
Registration and Student Self Service _________________________________ 4
University Card ___________________________________________________ 4
Email ____________________________________________________________ 5
PEOPLE
Your supervisor ___________________________________________________ 5
Your college tutor for graduates _____________________________________ 6
The Faculty Director of Graduate Studies ______________________________ 6
The Graduate Studies Assistant ______________________________________ 6
The Graduate Studies Administrator and Faculty Librarian ________________ 6
PLACES __________________________________________________________ 6
INSTITUTIONS ____________________________________________________ 7
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY __________________ 8
KEEPING IN TOUCH ________________________________________________ 8

2. GRADUATE COURSES UNDER THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY
GENERAL INFORMATION ___________________________________________ 10

3. ONE AND TWO YEAR TAUGHT GRADUATE COURSES
Master of Studies _________________________________________________ 11
Master of Philosophy ______________________________________________ 13
Postgraduate Diploma in Theology ___________________________________ 14
Master of Theology and Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Theology ________ 15
Change of programmes of study _____________________________________ 15
Application for readmission to M.Litt. or D.Phil. status ___________________ 16

4. RESEARCH DEGREES
Aims and expectations _____________________________________________ 18
Progression via entry as a Probationer Research Student _________________ 19
Research supervision: a brief guide for students ________________________ 20
Graduate Supervision System (GSS) __________________________________ 22
Confirmation of D.Phil. Status _______________________________________ 23
Transfer from M.Litt. to D.Phil. Status _________________________________ 24
Residency requirements ____________________________________________ 25
Extension and suspension of time ____________________________________ 25
Appointment of examiners _________________________________________ 27
Oxford Research Archive (ORA) and the electronic publication of theses:
arrangements for humanities students ________________________________ 29
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PART TIME D.PHIL.
Attendance requirements __________________________________________ 34
Transfer of Status (part time) ________________________________________ 34
Confirmation of Status (part time) ___________________________________ 34

5. WRITING A SUBMITTED ESSAY, DISSERTATION OR THESIS
General considerations _____________________________________________ 36
Choice of subject _________________________________________________ 36
Submitting an essay/thesis proposal to the Graduate Studies Assistant _____ 36
The thesis itself ___________________________________________________ 37
The presentation of a dissertation or thesis ____________________________ 38
Change of title ___________________________________________________ 40
Plagiarism _______________________________________________________ 40
SUBMITTED WORK DECLARATION SAMPLE ____________________________ 41
SUMBITTED WRITTEN WORK COVERSHEET SAMPLE _____________________ 42

6. EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCE
Paid employment _________________________________________________ 43
Teaching by graduates _____________________________________________ 43
Financial sources __________________________________________________ 44
FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Language tuition __________________________________________________ 46
Travel grants _____________________________________________________ 46
Oxford Theological Monographs _____________________________________ 47

7. TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Training and professional development for graduate students in the Humanities
Division general information _______________________________________ 48
Personal and professional development: framework for Humanities graduate
students _________________________________________________________ 49
Join S S ISS Uk k C
research students _________________________________________________ 50
A model for graduate researcher development in Humanities _____________ 53

8. APPENDICES
Graduate forms ___________________________________________________ 54
Memorandum for supervisors and research students ____________________ 56
________ 60
Equal Opportunities Statement: Students ______________________________ 61




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WELCOME


Welcome to graduate studies in Theology at Oxford. Graduate work is stimulating and
rewarding, both for students and for those involved in teaching and supervision; we hope
that you will soon feel part of the graduate community in the Faculty, and settle into your
programme of study.

This handbook is intended to help orient you to graduate life in the Faculty, and to point you
to some of the resources in the Faculty, your college and the wider university which you can
draw upon in order to make best use of your time as a graduate student. Alongside this
handbook you should also consult the relevant Taught Graduate Course pamphlet, which
will be included in your pack if you are studying for a taught academic Theology course
(Postgraduate Diploma, M.St. or M.Phil. completed under the auspices of the Faculty), and
the current Examination Regulations, which contains full and authoritative details of syllabi
and other requirements for your degree programme.

If you have problems or questions, please do not hesitate to ask for help from those
involved in graduate studies in Theology. You can find details of who to contact in the pages
which follow.

With best wishes for your studies.

Ms Naomi King
Graduate Studies Administrator
Theology Faculty Centre
34 St Giles
Oxford
OX1 3LD
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PEOPLE, PLACES AND INSTITUTIONS IN OXFORD

Oxford is a large, complex and diverse university, and although you will soon find your way
around, it can be a little daunting at first. Here are some of the key people and locations
with which you should familiarise yourself, as well as a very brief account of the institutional
arrangements which support graduate work.

REGISTRATION

Registration and Student Self Service
All new students are sent a college freshers' pack containing details of how to activate their
Oxford Single Sign-on account. The Oxford Single Sign-on is used to access Student Self
Service to register online, as well as to access other central IT services such as free
University email, Weblearn and the Graduate Supervision System.

In order to complete your registration as an Oxford University student, navigate to
www.studentsystem.ox.ac.uk/ and log on using your Single Sign-on username and password.
New students must complete their registration by the end of the first week of term in order
to confirm their status as members of the University. Ideally, students should complete
registration before they arrive. Continuing students must register at the anniversary of the
term in which they first started their programme of study.

Once students have completed their University registration, an enrolment certificate is
available from Student Self Service to download and print. This certificate may be used to
obtain council tax exemption. In addition to enabling students to register online, Student
Self Service provides web access to important course and other information needed by
students throughout their academic career. Students can amend their address and contact
details via Student Self Service, and they can use the Service to access detailed exam results,
see their full academic record print transcripts.

University Card
The University Card provides students with access to facilities and services such as libraries,
computing services and the Language Teaching Centre. In some colleges and faculties
students also need the card as a payment card or to enter buildings, which have swipe-card
access control. The University Card also acts as a form of identity when students are on
college or University premises. Cards are issued to students by their college on arrival in
Oxford once registration has been completed.


5

Email
C registration details have been processed, the student will be able to find
out their email address from OUCS Self Service
(https://register.oucs.ox.ac.uk/self/user_info?display=mailin) and have access to email
either by the Nexus service (https://nexus.ox.ac.uk) or via an email client such as
Thunderbird, Outlook Express, Netscape Mail or Eudora - for client configuration
information see the web pages at http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/email/config/. The email
system is controlled by the Oxford University Computing Services
(http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/) and problems should be referred to them.

PEOPLE

Your supervisor
All students are assigned a supervisor by the Faculty Board. In the case of a research
degree, the supervisor will be your primary tutor. If you are on one of our other graduate
programmes, the supervisor may arrange for some or all of the teaching to be undertaken
by others, but will still retain overall responsibility for your progress. Appendix B outlines

studying for research degrees. All graduate students should, however, bear the following
points in mind:

You should take responsibility for keeping in regular contact with the supervisor.
If you are studying for a research degree, you can expect to see your supervisor
at least twice each term. It is usually helpful to meet at the beginning of the

progress, in preparation for the supervisor writing your termly report.
If you are studying for a taught graduate course, you can expect to meet your
supervisor at least once each term, in addition to any teaching which may be
offered by the supervisor.
The supervisor is required to provide a written report on your progress, which is
made available to your college, the Graduate Studies Committee and the Faculty
Board. See page 22 of this handbook for further information about the Graduate
Supervision System (GSS).
The supervisor is responsible for advising on all aspects of academic work,
including attendance at lectures and classes.
On rare occasions, students and supervisors find it difficult to work together, and
you may wish to change supervisor. Such difficulties should, if at all possible, be
raised with the supervisor in the first instance, but you may also approach the
l u C S
6

When a supervisor is on sabbatical leave, the Faculty Board may arrange
alternative supervision, unless the supervisor has agreed to continue to be
available to graduate students.

Your college tutor for graduates
Your college will assign you to a tutor for graduates (sometimes the Senior Tutor) who has
overall responsibility for graduate members of the college. Some colleges also assign you to
a college adviser (not to be confu l C
progress of each student through the termly report submitted by the supervisor, and
P
House). Colleges take responsibility for general welfare, social facilities and support services
such as computing and study facilities. They may also offer help with housing and finance.
Colleges are also responsible for collecting fees.

The Faculty Director of Graduate Studies
1 l u C S
Theology, and is happy to help wherever possible. The Director of Graduate Studies for
2009-10 is Dr Mark Edwards, at Christ Church (mark.edwards@theology.ox.ac.uk) (tel:
[2]76216). To make an appointment, you should contact him directly.

The Graduate Studies Assistant
The Theology Faculty Graduate Studies Assistant is Mr Martin Cameron. The Graduate
Studies Assistant deals with most on-course graduate studies matters including transfers,
confirmation, thesis title changes, supervisor changes, extensions and suspensions.
Mr Cameron is based at the Humanities Division Graduate Office, 37a St Giles, Oxford, OX1
3LD (martin.cameron@humanities.ox.ac.uk)(tel: [2]70048).

All Graduate Studies application forms are available online at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms and should be returned to Mr Cameron.

The Graduate Studies Administrator and Faculty Librarian
Ms Naomi King l Graduate Studies Administrator, with responsibility for
graduate admissions and graduate examination administration. She is based at the Theology
Faculty Centre, 34 St Giles. Dr Hilla Wait l L l
Library at 41 St. Giles.

PLACES

As part of finding your way around Oxford, you will need to locate:
7

Your college, which will have a college office for routine business; mail will
normally be sent to you at your college address;
Y l C
The Faculty Annexe and Library at 41 St Giles, which has a Common Room
specifically for graduate use;
The Faculty Centre at 34 St Giles;
The Bodleian Library, and any other specialist libraries you may require;
The Language Centre, 12 Woodstock Road, which provides courses and self-
teaching facilities in major European languages, most of which are free to
members of the University;
The Computing Services (OUCS), 13 Banbury Road, which provides a great range
of courses and self-teaching facilities, as well as a shop. Further information can
be found on the OUCS website (http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/) or obtained from Dr
Michael Fraser (mike.fraser@oucs.ox.ac.uk), who liaises between the Theology
Faculty and OUCS.

INSTITUTIONS

Like every other student of the University, a graduate student is a member of both a
college and a faculty. Colleges are responsible for the general welfare of graduate
students, and may provide other services (as outlined above); the Faculty is
responsible for matters to do with your university degree.
The Faculty of Theology consists of all those who hold University posts (professors,
readers and lecturers), fellows and lecturers of colleges and permanent private halls,
and others, including staff of other institutions and members of other faculties who
play a role in teaching or research in theology.
1 8 l l
the holders of professorial chairs, elected ordinary members and co-opted members.
The Faculty Board Chair for 2009-10 is Dr Paul Joyce and the Secretary is at present
Mrs Frances Jenkins. The Board meets twice per term, and decides on most matters
of policy within the Faculty, including curricular matters. It has several committees,
the most important of which, the Academic Planning Committee, includes a
representative of the Graduate Joint Consultative Committee (the role of this
committee is explained in more detail later on in this handbook). The Board is also
responsible for approval o
The Theology Graduate Studies Committee (Theology GSC) is a standing committee
of the Theology Faculty Board. It is chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies, who
is also the Deputy Chair of the Faculty Board. It meets on the Monday of weeks 1 and
6, as well as occasionally during vacations. Its function is to advise the Board on all
matters concerning graduate studies, and especially:
8


applications for admission
appointment of supervisors
applications for transfer of status
applications for confirmation of status
appointment of examiners for research degrees
reports from supervisors, and other matters concerning student
progress
reports from examiners

Your business goes to the Faculty Board through the Graduate Studies Committee.
To ensure that it is on the agenda, it should reach Mr Martin Cameron at the
Humanities Division l C
Friday of weeks -1 and 4. Your supervisor and your college will help you with any
official applications that you need to make. Most pieces of routine business
(applications for transfer of status, confirmation of D.Phil. status, re-admission to the
D.Phil. after the M.St., dispensation from residence, suspension of status, change of
title, extension of time, appointment of examiners, early viva voce examination) are
handled by filling out forms, which can be downloaded from the following website:
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms.
The Graduate Joint Consultative Committee consists of elected representatives of
the graduate student body, the Faculty Board Chairman, the Director of Graduate
Studies and one other Faculty member. It meets once each term, and is intended to
keep graduate students informed of developments that affect them, as well as to
offer an opportunity for addressing their concerns. It suggests representatives on key
Faculty Board committees.
The Proctors are the University officers whose remit includes the maintenance of
discipline and the conduct of examinations. Appendix C explains where to find the
procedures for complaints and appeals in examination matters. Approaches to the
Proctors should be made through your college.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

1 l 1 u C
Plan,which can be found at: http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2004-5/supps/corporate.htm.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Graduate students occasionally experience a measure of isolation in a large institution, and
it is important to build in opportunities for regular contacts:
9

with fellow students, whether in the Faculty or your college;
with your supervisor;
with those responsible for teaching you;
with your college adviser;
by participating in graduate seminars, attending lectures and other events
organized by the Faculty and colleges. You must find out which graduate
seminars you are required to attend in your area of study.

Towards the end of each year, the Director of Graduate Studies will ask you to submit a
confidential self-report to him, outlining your progress, and inviting you to discuss any
problems you may have encountered. Please see page 22 of this handbook for more
information about the Graduate Supervision System (GSS).

















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GRADUATE COURSES UNDER THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

GENERAL INFORMATION

The graduate courses for which the Board of the Faculty of Theology has responsibility are:

1. Postgraduate Courses: the Master of Studies (M.St.) and Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.)
degrees.

These exist in the following subjects: Eastern Christian Studies, Judaism & Christianity in the
Graeco-Roman World (both M.Phil. only), Philosophical Theology, The Study of Religion
(M.St. only), Theology - which is further divided into sections: Old Testament, New
Testament, Christian Doctrine (further divided into several sections), Ecclesiastical History
(further divided into several sections), Christian Ethics, Science and Religion (M.St. only) and
Biblical Interpretation (M.St. only).

2. Research Degrees: the Master of Letters (M.Litt.) and Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil.)
degrees, which are done wholly by thesis.




















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ONE AND TWO YEAR TAUGHT GRADUATE COURSES
(Postgraduate Diploma in Theology, M.St., M.Phil.)

Past examination papers in these courses are available for consultation in the Theology
Faculty Library. They are also available online at:
http://missun29.offices.ox.ac.uk/pls/oxam/main.

It is important that you should be acquainted with the regulations for the course on which
you are registered. The authoritative source f Examination
Regulati 1 C 8 Suses are also laid out for
easy reference in the course pamphlets for taught graduate courses produced by the
Faculty. You should receive a copy of the relevant pamphlet with this handbook. If not, they
are available as downloadable documents on the Faculty website. General remarks on the
courses follow.

Master of Studies courses (M.St.)

The purpose of the Master of Studies degree is to offer specialist postgraduate
education in Theology and the Study of Religions for able students, possibly
including an element of scholarly research and writing, which may constitute an
introduction to a future research degree.

The standard for the award of the degree is defined as what may reasonably be
expected of a student who achieved at least a high 2-1 in the Final or Joint
Honour School of Theology or Philosophy & Theology or a GPA of 3.7 with a
major in religion or theology at a good college or university after one further year
of full-time work.

Each student is assigned a general supervisor, whose duty it is to advise
concerning the choice of subjects and on any questions relating to academic
work; to direct you to the appropriate classes and to appoint special supervisors,
as necessary, to direct work on particular topics. Students are not expected to
find their own special supervisors. If you wish to work with a particular member
of the Faculty, you may propose it to your supervisor although the final decision
rests with the supervisor. The general supervisor is responsible for receiving
reports each term from special supervisors and arranging for their payment, as
well as for reporting to the Graduate Studies Assistant on your general progress.

12

A course leading to the M.St. is usually expected to last twelve months. The
examination takes place in Trinity term, and the dissertation is normally
submitted in September (unless specified otherwise in the Examination
Regulations). The viva voce examination will normally take place in late
September or early October (unless specified otherwise in the Examination
Regulations).

The degree is usually awarded on the basis of three shorter (up to 5,000 word)
essays and a dissertation of up to 15,000 words. In some cases a written
examination paper may or must be substituted for one of the shorter essays,
although this format may vary for Masters courses other than the M.St. in
Theology. Check the Examination Regulations for details. There will also be a viva
voce examination. The M.St. in Philosophical Theology is awarded on the basis of
a written examination in two of the prescribed papers, plus a dissertation of up
to 15,000 words, and a viva voce examination. Details of the marking
conventions can be found in the accompanying pamphlets Course Regulations for
the Degree Master of Studies in Theology; Course Regulations for the Degree
Master of Studies in Philosophical Theology; and Course Regulations for the
Degree Master of Studies in the Study of Religion.

The dissertation (two copies) must be submitted to the Chair of Examiners at the
Examination Schools in the autumn following the examination, twenty eight days
before the first day of Michaelmas Full Term, or as specified in the Examination
Regulations.

Course delivery is by means of a mixture of individual tuition, and occasional
classes and seminars, according to circumstances and at the discretion of the
organisers of the course concerned. Arrangements vary from one M.St. to
another. Graduates often find that the lectures specified for undergraduate
courses are of help for their own needs also, especially in background
preparation.

An entry form for the examination must be submitted through your college
office. You should contact your college secretary if you are unsure about who
initiates this process.

The titles of dissertations and all shorter essays must be approved by the Chair of
Examiners not later than the second meeting of Hilary Term. This means you
must submit them, with a short statement of how the subject will be treated,
and the signature of your supervisor, not later than noon on Monday of Fifth
13

Week of Hilary Term to The Chair of M.St. Examiners, c/o The Graduate Studies
Assistant, Humanities Division, 37a St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LD .

The shorter essays must be submitted to the Examination Schools not later than
noon, Friday of Fifth week of Trinity Term, or as specified in the Examination
Regulations.

Master of Philosophy courses (M.Phil.)

The purpose of the Master of Philosophy degree is to offer extensive postgraduate
education in Theology for very able students, including a significant element of
scholarly research and writing which may contribute towards a future research
degree.

The standard for the award of the degree is defined as what may reasonably be
expected of a student who achieved at least a high 2-1 in the Final or Joint Honour
School of Theology or Philosophy & Theology or a GPA of 3.7 with a major in religion
or theology at a good college or university after two further years of full-time work.

A course leading to the M.Phil. is expected to last twenty one months. The
examination takes place in the summer term of the second year. Deferral is strictly
exceptional and requires strong grounds (e.g. medical).

The degree is normally awarded on three components: (a) a written examination,
consisting of three or four papers; (b) a thesis of not more than 30,000 words
(20,000 in certain subjects); (c) a viva voce examination. Check the Examination
Regulations for full information. In some courses, essays may be substituted for
some examination papers. Details of marking conventions can be found in the course
pamphlet.

Course delivery is by means a mixture of individual tuition, classes and seminars,
according to circumstances and at the discretion of the organisers of the course
concerned. Arrangements vary from one M.Phil. course to another.

It is usual for coursework towards the examination to be done in the first of the two
years, the second being devoted to writing the thesis, but this arrangement is
variable.

Each student is assigned a general supervisor, whose duty it is to advise concerning
the choice of subjects and on any questions relating to the academic work, to direct
14

you to the appropriate classes and to appoint special supervisors, as necessary, to
direct work on particular topics. Students are not expected to find their own
supervisors. If you wish to work with a particular member of the faculty, you may
propose it to your supervisor though the decision rests with the supervisor. The
general supervisor is responsible for receiving reports each term from special
supervisors and arranging for their payment, as well as for reporting, via the
Graduate Supervision System, on your general progress.

The topic of your thesis has to be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee not
later than its meeting in the first week of Michaelmas Term in your second year. You
should hand your proposed title, with a short statement of how the subject will be
treated, approved and signed by your supervisor to Mr Martin Cameron, 37a St
Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LD at the latest by the Monday of the week before Full Term i.e.
Monday of 0
th
week. Full Term dates can be found online at
http://www.ox.ac.uk/about_the_university/university_year/dates_of_term.html.

An entry form for the examination must be submitted. This will usually be done
through your college office. You should contact your college secretary if you are
unsure about who initiates this process.

Two copies of the thesis must be submitted to the Chair of Examiners at the
Examination Schools at least fourteen days before the beginning of the
examination.

Unsuccessful candidates for the M.Phil. are permitted to sit the examination again
on one occasion only. If the thesis has been successful, it may be re-submitted for
the new examination. If the papers have been successful, you may be exempted
from re-sitting them on the second occasion. The examiners may offer an
unsuccessful candidate the option of being awarded the M.St. degree as an
alternative to re-sitting for the M.Phil.

Postgraduate Diploma in Theology

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Theology is to provide graduates from
other disciplines with the central elements of the undergraduate course in theology,
enabling some to proceed to a postgraduate level of study.

The level for the award of the Diploma is what may reasonably be expected of a good
honours graduate from another discipline after one year of theological study.

15

The Diploma course lasts nine months; the examinations take place in early July.

The Diploma is awarded on the basis of at least three, and no more than five,
examination papers. Entry forms for examinations must be submitted; this is done
through the college office. You should contact your college secretary if you are
unsure about who initiates this process.

Diploma candidates are assigned to a supervisor. The supervisor will oversee your
course of studies, arrange for tutorial teaching and advise on lectures and classes to
be attended. The supervisor will receive reports from tutors, and also report to the
Graduate Studies Office concerning student progress.

Course delivery is by tutorials, for which you customarily prepare written work for
discussion with the tutor. In addition, you must attend relevant classes and lectures
whose primary focus will be for undergraduates. Full details of teaching
arrangements for each examination paper can be found in the pamphlet Course
Regulations for the Degree of Postgraduate Diploma in Theology.

Although Diploma candidates make use of undergraduate lectures and classes, they
are full members of the postgraduate community, and are entitled to draw on all the
graduate resources of the Faculty and the University.


Master of Theology and Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Theology
These courses are administered on behalf of the theological colleges and Permanent Private
Halls by a Supervisory Committee directly responsible to the Board of the Faculty of
Theology. They are designed to provide theological study at postgraduate level for those
engaged in professional ministry and can be done part-time as well as full-time. Details of
these courses are not included in this handbook; reference should be made to the
handbooks prepared by the administering institutions.

Change of programmes of study

The expectation is that you will complete the course for which you were admitted, unless
formal application for a change of programme of study is made to the Graduate Studies
Committee. A request to change in mid-stream, either from one type of course to another
(e.g. M.St. to M.Phil.) or from one subject-area to another (e.g. New Testament to Doctrine)
will be subject to the discretion of the Graduate Studies Committee. There can be no
expectation
16

the subject, degree or diploma for which he/she was originally admitted; such transfers are
subject to a rigorous process of assessment.

Nevertheless, changes in personal circumstances (e.g. funding) or experience of the course
itself can sometimes make a change appropriate. An application for such a change can be
made using the GSO28 change of programme of study form. When asked to approve such a
change, the Committee will consider:-
(a) whether the applicant can demonstrate the capacity to succeed in the work
l
judgement will always be important; written work will also be requested, assessors
appointed and an interview held.
(b) whether there are good reasons for the change. The Graduate Studies
Committee will not consider apprehension at the prospect of sitting examinations a good
reason. Genuine difficulties with the circumstances of examinations (e.g. of a medical
kind) should be brought to the attention of the Proctors through college authorities.


Application for readmission to M.Litt. or D.Phil. Status

How to apply for re-admission as a continuing student at Oxford

l M C
doctoral programme without a break in your study, you must complete a re-admission form.
Re-admission forms will be available via OSS Student Self Service
(www.studentsystem.ox.ac.uk) and will be pre-populated with details that the University
currently has on record for you, such as your personal details and your previous
qualifications. You must enter details of the programme you intend to study and any
changes to the data we hold in your record.

n M u.Phil. degree at Oxford
(without a break in study) were required to complete a GSO4 form.

Supporting materials

You will be required to provide the supporting materials for your programme of study when
submitting your application form. For guidance on supporting materials please refer to the
Notes of Guidance for Applicants to Graduate Study 2010-2011:
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/Apply/how_to_apply.html.

Standard list of supporting materials:
(i) Research proposal
(ii) Academic record: transcript
17

(iii) Current curriculum vitae
(iv) Two pieces of written work
(v) Three references
(vi) English Proficiency score Test Certificate if English is not your first language

Re- M

If you wish to re- M must specifically request
these items from the Graduate Admissions Office (graduate.admissions@admin.ox.ac.uk).

Deadline

You should ensure that your re-admission form and all supporting materials, including your
references, are submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office in time to meet the application
deadline for your chosen programme. The Theology Faculty uses the late January
Application Deadline and the March Application Deadline.

Late or incomplete re-admission applications will not be considered.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FUNDING: If you wish to apply for an AHRC award
(UK and other EU students) or a Clarendon award (international students), you must apply
by the January deadline.


Application fee
You will be exempt from paying the graduate application fee of 25.

8 M D.Phil.
If there is any break in your study (even if it is only for a term), you will not be able to use a
re-admission form; you must complete a graduate application form (available at
www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/how_to_apply.html) and you will be
required to pay the application fee.









18



RESEARCH DEGREES (M.Litt, D.Phil.)

Aims and expectations

The aim of the M.Litt. degree is to assist you in completing a shorter piece of research in
Theology, and to demonstrate suitable academic attainments for appointment to positions
which may include responsibilities in teaching or research.

The aim of the D.Phil. degree is to assist you in completing a first major piece of research in
Theology and to demonstrate suitable academic attainments for appointment to a
University-level teaching or research post.

The standards for the award of the degrees are stated in the Examination
Regulations in terms of the certificate that the examiners must sign
a) In the case of the D.Phil.:-
i. That the student possesses a good general knowledge of the
particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;
ii. That the student has made a significant and substantial contribution
in the particular field of learning within which the subject of the thesis
falls;
iii. That the thesis is presented in a lucid and scholarly manner;
iv. That in their opinion the thesis merits the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy;
v. That the student has presented a satisfactory abstract of the thesis.

Examiners shall bear in mind that their judgement of the substantial significance of the
work should take into account what may reasonably be expected of a capable and diligent
student after three or at most four years of full-time study in the case of a full-time
student, or eight years in the case of a part-time student.

b) In the case of the M.Litt.:-
i. That the student possesses a good general knowledge of the field of
learning within which the subject of the thesis falls;
ii. That the student has shown competence in investigating the chosen
topic;
iii. That the student has made a worthwhile contribution to knowledge or
understanding in the field of learning within which the subject of the
thesis falls;
19

iv. That the thesis is presented in a lucid and scholarly manner;
v. That it merits the award of the Degree of Master of Letters.

Examiners shall bear in mind that their judgement of the extent of the candidate
contribution to knowledge or understanding of the relevant field of learning shall take
into account what may reasonably be expected of a capable and diligent student after two
years of full-time study in the case of a full-time student, or twelve terms in the case of a
part-time student.

When the Graduate Studies Committee considers any proposal of a topic for a
research degree it will seek to be assured:-
a) That the subject falls within the fields of learning proper to the Faculty of
Theology, and that adequate supervision is available;
b) That the subject is such, in its scope and nature, as to give the student a
proper opportunity to fulfil the statutory requirements for the award of the
degree in question, and in particular, in the case of the D.Phil., the
a significant and substantial contribution in the particular
. This may include, for example: discovery of new knowledge,
the relating of previously unrelated facts; the development of new theory or
the revision of older views; the opening up of debates with new literature;
c) That the subject is a valid one, satisfactorily defined, of feasible scope for
completion in two (M.Litt.) or three (D.Phil.) years, and can profitably be
studied at Oxford;
d) 1
for the successful completion of the proposed research;
e) That the university can appoint a suitably qualified supervisor or co-
supervisors in the proposed area of study.

Progression via entry as a Probationer Research Student

l l M to
the D.Phil. on the basis of your previous qualifications, you will initially be registered as a
Probationer Research Student (PRS).

A Probationer Research Student is normally expected to apply for transfer within three
terms (or six terms in the case of part-time students). A Probationer Research Student who
has not successfully transferred by the end of the six terms for which such status may be
held in total (twelve terms in the case of part-time students) shall lapse from the register of
Graduate Students.
20


To apply for Transfer to D.Phil. or M.Litt. status you must submit a completed transfer of
status form (GSO2), accompanied by duplicate copies of:

A typewritten copy of a piece of original written work of about 5000 words generally
relevant to the theme of the proposed thesis, paying proper scholarly attention to
primary sources, secondary discussions etc. and demonstrating scholarly
competence in the organisation of the arguments.
A description of the proposed research topic, including a provisional title and a
statement in approximately 1,000 words of how it will be approached, together with
a brief bibliography.

The Graduate Studies Committee will appoint two assessors to read your written work,
interview you and submit a report back to the Committee. You must attend this interview in
person and be present in Oxford for it. The research supervisor may attend this interview. If
you fail to satisfy the assessor, the Faculty Board may set a date by which ONE further oral
examination must be held, with such conditions as it sees fit and grant an extension of
Probationer Research Status up to the limit of 6 terms. An applicant who fails to satisfy the
assessor after their second oral examination WILL NOT be allowed to proceed to the M.Litt.
or D.Phil. This is a rigorous process and should not be regarded as a formality by any means.

The Graduate Studies Committee may, at its discretion, grant someone who has applied for
transfer to D.Phil Student status transfer to M.Litt Student status only. This does not
ML to D.Phil. transfer at a later stage.

Please note that assessors are asked not to inform you of the result of a transfer interview.
They make a recommendation to the Graduate Studies Committee which considers the
reports and makes its decision. You should not read anything into their silence on the
outcome, as they are only acting in keeping with Faculty policy.

Research supervision: a brief guide for students

The role of the supervisor is to:

Advise, guide and support you in all aspects of your research, providing clear
intellectual leadership and giving precise guidance about academic expectations.
Agree with you a clear plan of research, identify milestones and provide information
on the availability of research resources
Agree with you a timetable for:
21

o regular meetings (normally twice per term) for detailed discussion of your
progress
o the submission of written work, which the supervisor should return to you
within a reasonable time
Liaise with you to produce a detailed joint report on your progress at the end of each
term.
Ensure that you are aware of the formal requirements for transfer of status,
confirmation of status and final submission, and that these are incorporated into your
plan of work.
Discuss with you subject-specific and general research skills required for your
doctoral studies; work with you to identify areas where you require additional training
to develop these and other skills; advise you on how these needs may be met, and
assess your skills development and training requirements at least once a year.
Assist and encourage you to participate in the wider academic community.
Ensure that you are aware of relevant University guidelines and regulations, e.g.
student handbook, Examination Regulations, guidance on plagiarism, and lecture lists.
For more details, see the Code of Practice on Supervision of Graduate Research Students,
available at:
www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/oxford_only/supervisors/supervision_150_summary_for_student
s

The role of the student is to:

Attend induction sessions arranged by the faculty, Library Services and Computing
Services.
Meet with your supervisor regularly and take note of his or her advice and guidance.
Draw up a research plan and timetable of work in consultation with your supervisor,
and to keep relevant records of all aspects of your work.
Liaise with your supervisor to produce a detailed joint report on your progress at the
end of each term.
Work with your supervisor to draw up a programme for identifying and developing
your subject-specific and general research skills, and personal and professional skills.
Attend appropriate classes, lectures, and seminars.
Be aware of relevant University guidelines and regulations, e.g. student handbook,
Examination Regulations, guidance on plagiarism, and of any ethical or legal issues,
health and safety requirements, or intellectual property issues arising from your
research.
Work with your supervisor to pursue opportunities to engage with the wider
academic community at University, national and international level.

22

If you require further details or have any questions about the above, please ask your
supervisor or the Director of Graduate Studies for your subject area.


Graduate Supervision System (GSS)

At the end of each term, your supervisor(s) will submit a report on your academic progress.
To facilitate this reporting, the University operates an online Graduate Supervision System
(GSS). Within this system, you have the opportunity to contribute to your termly supervision
reports by reviewing and commenting on your own progress.

You are strongly encouraged to take the opportunity to review and comment on your
academic progress, any skills training you have undertaken or may need to undertake in the
future, and on your engagement with the academic community (e.g. seminar/conference
attendance or any teaching you have undertaken).

Your supervisor(s) will review and comment on your academic progress and performance
during the current term and assess skills and training needs to be addressed during the next
term. Your supervisor should discuss the report with you, as it will form the basis for
feedback on your progress, for identifying areas where further work is required, for
reviewing your progress against an agreed timetable, and for agreeing plans for the term
ahead.

When reporting on academic progress, students on taught courses should review progress
during the current term, and measure this progress against the timetable and requirements
for their programme of study. Students on doctoral programmes should reflect on the
progress made with their research project during the current term, including written work
(e.g. drafts of chapters) and you should assess this against the plan of research that has
been agreed with your supervisor(s).

All students should briefly describe which subject-specific research skills and more general
personal/professional skills they have acquired or developed during the current term. You
should include attendance at relevant classes that form part of your programme of study
and also include courses, seminars or workshops offered or arranged by your faculty or the
Division. Students should also reflect on the skills required to undertake the work they
intend to carry out. You should mention any skills you do not already have or you may wish
to strengthen through undertaking training.

23

If you have any complaints about the supervision you are receiving, you should raise this
with your Director of Graduate Studies. You should not use the supervision reporting system
as a mechanism for complaints.

Students are asked to report in weeks 6 and 7 of term. Once you have completed your
sections of the online form, it will be released to your supervisor(s) for completion and will
also be visible to your Director of Graduate Studies and to your College Advisor. When the
as will the relevant
Director of Graduate Studies and your college advisor. Directors of Graduate Studies are
responsible for ensuring that appropriate supervision takes place, and this is one of the
mechanisms they use to obtain information about supervision. College advisors are a source
of support and advice to students, and it is therefore important that they are informed of
your progress, including concerns (expressed by you and/or your supervisor).

To access the GSS, please visit http://www.gss.ox.ac.uk/. You will be able to log on to the
site using your single sign-on details. Full details of how to use the site are provided at the
on-line help centre, however, should you need additional support, please contact your
Graduate Studies Assistant in the first instance.

Confirmation of D.Phil. Status

D.Phil. students are required to confirm their status, not later than the end of their ninth
term as a full-time graduate student (e.g. If you have completed an M.Phil or MTh prior to
the D.Phil. you are required to confirm your status at the end of your third term of D.Phil.
status) or eighteenth term as a part-time graduate student.

To apply for confirmation of status you must submit completed confirmation of status forms
(GSO14 and 14a available at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms/), accompanied by
duplicates of:

A draft chapter
Two abstracts
You will have to write two abstracts when you submit your dissertation, one of about 300
words and one of 1,500-2,500 words. You should write drafts of both of these for the
confirmation of status assessment.
The abstracts must contain:
the argument of the thesis, what you are trying to prove, and why (viz. what has
already been done, why scholarship on your topic is inadequate and makes it
24

appropriate for you to be undertaking the research and its contribution to
knowledge);
how you are going to establish your conclusion;
what each chapter contributes to the argument; and,
the reasons why you have ordered the material in the way in which you have done.
An outline of the thesis, indicating what has been completed to date and a timetable
for completion.

The GSO 14 and 14a forms will require detailed information about how the work is
progressing, and will require you to state a projected date of completion, which you should
not do without consulting your supervisor and coming to a common mind on what might
reasonably be practical. This date is not legally binding on you, but it enables the Graduate
Studies Committee to monitor your progress thereafter. If circumstances subsequently
require a change in this projected date, you should inform the Graduate Studies Committee.

On receipt of an application, the Graduate Studies Committee will appoint two assessors to
consider your work and interview you, with or without your supervisor present, on the
progress of your work and your plans for completion. You must be present in Oxford for the
confirmation of status interview and attend it in person. Particular attention will be paid to
the circumstances in which those who propose to leave Oxford intend to complete their
work.

The Graduate Studies Committee will not agree to the confirmation if it feels it lacks
reasonable grounds for confidence that the work can be brought to a satisfactory conclusion
in a reasonable time.

You should regard the confirmation of statu process,
feedback from which will enable you to complete the doctorate successfully. It is therefore a
serious assessment and one intended to aid you.

Transfer from M.Litt. to D.Phil. Status

An M.Litt. s apply for transfer to D.Phil. student
status. Normally such applications will not be con ninth term.
To apply for the transfer you must submit the following:

A GSO2 Application for transfer of status form.
Submission of a draft chapter
25

An abstract
An outline of the thesis, including how much has been completed to date.
A timetable for completion

Permission for this transfer counts as confirmation of D.Phil. status.

Residency requirements

Full-time D.Phil. students must be resident in Oxford for at least 6 terms. This includes any
residency requirement already completed (for example PRS residency). Students who have
M C u
completed towards their residency requirement.

Extension and suspension of time

Running out of time is the most serious single problem that faces students for a research
degree.

Some causes can be averted by anticipation and planning. They include:

(a) unrealistic and unfocussed planning of the research topic;

(b) undisciplined and disorganised work;

(c) underestimating the time taken to write the thesis, and extending the research
too long;

(d) changes in personal circumstances, e.g. marriage, parenthood;

(e) running out of money, and taking paid employment, part or full-time. This is the
commonest cause of difficulties for those who have completed their residence
requirements and left Oxford.

Extension of time is required if, after nine terms (M.Litt.) or twelve terms (D.Phil.) the thesis
has not been submitted. Application must be made before time runs out. Otherwise you will
.

1 C S C u
ML
a time.
26


This grant of extension , and is not a
right. In applying you must give a full account of what has prevented completion of
the thesis, and propose an efficient and practicable timetable for completion. The
Graduate Studies Committee will not grant extension unless it is reasonably assured
that the thesis is going to be completed in the time predicted. The supervisor and
college are required to give his/her support for any application for extension.
With sufficient reason it is possible to suspend status for a maximum of six terms. This
procedure requires you not to work on your thesis for the specified period, and so does not
gain you any more time in total, but allows you a period of grace to deal with specific
problems. It is appropriate in the case of long illness or disruption of family circumstances
which will effectively prevent progress. The Faculty Board considers it appropriate for those
who take up employment. Those holding AHRC awards should note that this view is not
shared by the AHRC, who will not allow suspension of status for this purpose.
If time runs out, and a research student withdraws or lapses, it is possible in some
circumstances to apply for reinstatement for one term. This has proved a useful measure to
help doctoral students who have exhausted the time available to them. There are, however,
risks associated with this way of proceeding:
The Faculty Board alone is not permitted to reinstate a student whose name has
been on the Register of Graduate Students for the maximum number of terms
allowed. Permission to reinstate beyond the maximum number of terms must also
be considered by the Educational Policy and Standards Committee.
A student who withdraws before the end of his/her fee liability will be required on
reinstatement to pay fees for the interim period. This is not, therefore, a way of
coping with financial difficulties.
Reinstatement is not an entitlement. Anyone contemplating this course of action,
therefore, is advised to withdraw in an orderly fashion, informing the Graduate
Studies Committee by letter and suggesting a timetable within which an application
for reinstatement may be expected. This provides a framework of reasonable
expectation within which future problems can be discussed. You must have the
support of your supervisor and college and the approval of the Graduate Studies
Committee.

In considering an application for reinstatement the Faculty Board is required to see a
written statement from the former supervisor and one from your college. Before
embarking on this course of action, therefore, you should be sure that both
supervisor and college are prepared to support it.
27


After withdrawing you have no right of access to the former supervisor, who is not
paid and does not report on the progress of a withdrawn/lapsed student. Before
withdrawing, then, you should ascertain what informal help the supervisor is
prepared to give, and should not make demands in excess of this.

The unavailability of the former supervisor at the time of an application for
reinstatement, or his/her unwillingness to serve again, could create serious
complications.

The only ground for reinstatement that the Graduate Studies Committee will
normally consider (other than after withdrawal because of illness) is that the thesis is
now ready for examination.

Appointment of examiners

When the thesis is ready for submission, you apply for Appointment of Examiners using a
GSO3 form.

The thesis may be submitted simultaneously with the form applying for appointment
of examiners. Alternatively, you may apply for examiners in advance of submitting
the thesis, proposing a date of submission, which should be not more than three
and which will then be binding. This may shorten the overall time
taken for the examination.

You may at the same time need to apply to modify your title, so that it accurately
conveys the scope of the finished thesis. A request for change of thesis title can be
made using the GSO6.

Your supervisor will propose to the Graduate Studies Committee two qualified
people to act as your examiners along with two alternates. You have a right to be
consulted by your supervisor about this. The final decision rests with the Faculty
8
suggestions.

You may request to have the viva voce examination before a certain date if, for
example, you have to return home to another continent. Examiners can, however,
reasonably expect three months in which to read the thesis. Your request should be
sensible, and though it will be considered sympathetically, there is no undertaking to
comply with it. The limits on such a request are set out on the form of application. If
28

you need to apply for an early examination, please submit a GSO 16 Application for
Early Examination form.

Within about a month after you have been notified of the appointment of your
examiners, you should be advised by them of the date of your viva voce examination.
If you have heard nothing in this time, contact the Research Degree Examination
Office at the Examination Schools.

Academic dress is worn at the viva voce examination. You should bring a copy of
your thesis with you.

The viva voce examination is advertised and, in principle, public. It is not, however,
usual for anyone to attend other than the candidate and the two examiners. The

and two hours.

The examiners are not permitted to inform the candidate at the viva voce
examination of what their recommendation will be. Although some examiners ignore
or evade this restriction, others abide by it dutifully, and you should attach no
significance to their silence on this point. Your supervisor should also not be told. It is
important to remember that examiners are making recommendations to the Faculty
Board. The final decision rests with the Faculty Board.

The report to the Faculty Board though the Graduate Studies Committee is
authorized by the Board to advise on the reports and will consider all matters relating to
resubmission and assure that the examination process has been carried out in accordance
with University regulations.

Usually this means waiting until the next Board meeting for your result. There are,
however, provisions for uncontroversial reports to be approved by the Director of
Graduate Studies and the Chair of the Board during the vacation.

1
one of the following three options:

Award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy;
Reference back for D.Phil., or accept the award of the relevant lower
degree (M.Litt./M.St.) as the thesis stands;
Reference back for either D.Phil., or the relevant lower degree, as you
choose.
29


If the examiners are not able to recommend the award of the D.Phil., they will
indicate in their report the respects in which the thesis falls below the required
standard, and what changes are required to bring the thesis up to the required
standard. In rare cases, they may indicate that they are unable to propose how the
thesis could be changed to reach the required standard in the seven terms allowed
for revision.

If a thesis is resubmitted after revision, the examiners may recommend any of the
following six options:

Award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy;
Reference back for D.Phil., or accept the award of the relevant lower
degree (M.Litt./M.St.) as the thesis stands;
Reference back for M.Litt./M.St. only;
Reference back for either D.Phil., or the relevant lower degree as the
candidate chooses;
Award of the M.Litt./M.St. only;
Outright failure.

1 l 8 C S
Assistant.

Oxford Research Archive (ORA) and the electronic publication of theses: arrangements for
humanities students

Also available at www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/graduate_study/current_students/ora

What is ORA?
ORA (Oxford University Research Archive) is an online archive of research materials,
including theses created in fulfilment of Oxford awards, produced by graduate students at
Oxford University.

D.Phil., M.Litt. and M.Sc. (by Research)
Students who registered after 30 September 2007 for the degrees of D.Phil., M.Litt. and
M.Sc. (by Research) are required to deposit both a printed copy of their thesis in the
Bodleian Library and an electronic copy (e-thesis) in the Oxford University Research Archive
(ORA).


30


IMPORTANT: ORA and publishing your thesis

Benefits: Publishing your e-thesis in ORA could bring benefits, such as:
(i) high visibility to a wide audience;
(ii) preservation of your e- -
(iii) u8L e over time;
(iv) participation in EThOS (for eligible theses see below).

Risks: Publishing your e-thesis in ORA could prevent you from publishing all or part of your
research as a printed monograph, journal article, or in another format.

The Humanities Division recommends that, if you do plan to publish your research as a
book or article, you do not place your thesis on open access in ORA without first (i)
discussing the matter with your supervisor and (ii) consulting potential publishers to
ascertain their policy.


Automatic 3-year closed access
Access to Humanities doctoral theses deposited in ORA will automatically be closed for
three years. This default position applies to students from the following faculties/units:
Classics
English
History
Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics
Medieval and Modern Languages
Music
Oriental Studies
Philosophy
Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art
Theology

Information available during closed access
During closed access, only the following information from your thesis will be available in
ORA:
(i) Item record (your name, thesis title, subject area) and
(ii) Abstract and
(iii) Full text search for single words or short passages of text.


31

To extend closed access
(i) If you are a former Humanities student, you may apply (to the relevant faculty board) to
extend the initial period of closure of your thesis on ORA if you intent to publish your thesis.
If you have secured a contract or agreement with a publisher, you should provide a copy
with the application for extension. If you have not yet reached an agreement with a
publisher, you should provide information about when you expect to do so. Extensions will
be granted for a maximum period of three years at a time.

(ii) If you secure a contract from a publisher which prohibits you from publishing your
thesis online for a fixed period of time (e.g. 20 years) or indefinitely, you may apply for
closed access for an equivalent period of time.

Alternatives to the default position for Humanities students
(i) Should you be certain that you wish to publish your thesis electronically through
ORA, you may use the GSO.3A form (available at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms/) to


(ii) At any stage during the initial or subsequent period of closed access, you may decide


(iii) Permanent closure: You may request permanent closure when depositing your thesis
in ORA under the following circumstances:

(a) For digital material where copyright is held by a third party and permission to
disseminate it via the Internet in ORA has not been granted by the copyright holder, the
faculty board will grant permission for the copyright material to be deposited as a separate
file from the thesis, on the understanding that the thesis will be available for consultation or
reproduction but access to the copyright material will be restricted.

(b) Where confidential material forms only a small part of a thesis and the force of the
thesis will not be seriously impaired by the removal of such material, the faculty board may
grant permission for the access to the confidential material to be closed on the
understanding that the thesis will be available for consultation or reproduction but access
to the confidential material will be restricted.

Dispensation from consultation of your thesis library and ORA
(i) You may apply for dispensation from consultation of the copy of your thesis
deposited in the Bodleian or other University Library and of the electronic copy of your
thesis deposited in ORA if you have a good reason for such a request. Reasons for
requesting dispensation might include that consultation or reproduction would put at risk
32

confidential material or invalidate an application for a patent on a product or process
described in a thesis. Students are advised to be particularly mindful of the terms of any
agreements with an outside body or sponsor governing supply of confidential material or
the disclosure of research results described in the thesis.

(ii) Dispensation will always be granted (i) in cases where confidentiality has been made
a condition of access to materials that are subsequently incorporated in a thesis and (ii) for
material where copyright is held by a third party and permission to disseminate it via the
Internet has not been granted by the copyright holder. Apply for dispensation by
completing form GSO.3C, available at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms/.

Journal articles included within the thesis
Authors increasingly include published journal articles within their theses. Authors needing
to include such articles as part of the e-thesis can make the article freely available only in
compliance with copyright permissions. See www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo.php for guidance or
ask ORA staff.

Intellectual property rights
If consultation or reproduction of all or part of the thesis would put at risk confidential
material or invalidate an application for a patent on a product or process described in the
thesis, or restricting access to the thesis is a requirement of any agreements with an
outside body or sponsor governing supply of confidential material or the disclosure of
research results described in the thesis, you should apply for dispensation from
consultation. Please speak to your supervisor or Research Services if you are unsure.

The copyright in the thesis
The copyright in the thesis usually remains with the author. In a tiny minority of cases,
copyright might rest with a sponsor or other body. Please speak to your supervisor or
Research Services if you are unsure.

Third party copyright
If you have incorporated material within the thesis where copyright is held by an individual
or group that is not the author (third party copyright) you will need permission to make
such material freely available on the Internet. It is best to obtain such permission when
sourcing the material. You need to provide proof of permission when depositing your thesis
in ORA (eg email or letter). Contact ORA staff if you are unsure.

Fonts
Please use Unicode fonts. Be particularly careful that non-Roman characters and diacritics
33

are created using Unicode. Common applications (eg MSWord Arial font) usually use
Unicode. See http://unicode.org/.

File size
For ease of deposit and dissemination we ask that you limit the size of your deposited files.
You may deposit up to 10 files as part of one work, each a maximum of 10Mb. If this causes
problems, please contact us for help.

File format
You may deposit your thesis in any file format. We prefer the original source version for
preservation purposes (which should not have any security settings). You can deposit a
second copy in a different format (eg PDF) for dissemination: this version can have security
settings included if you wish.

EthOS
EThOS (Electronic Thesis Online Service) replaces the existing UK thesis service in 2008. It is
run by the British Library. ORA is the means of submitting Oxford theses to this service.
Publicly available D.Phil., D.Clin.Psych and D.M. theses will continue to be sent to the British
Library, but in digital form once the new service starts. Users will be able to access and
download the theses free of charge. There will be an option for users to obtain a printed
copy or copy on CD-ROM for a fee. See http://www.ethos.ac.uk/.

Plagiarism
Making the thesis open access increases its visibility, gains recognition for the author and
certifies them as author of the work. It can also give rise to concerns about increased risk of
plagiarism. However, when work is available open access, plagiarism is easier to detect (by
using a web search engine).

When to deposit your e-thesis
You may only deposit your e-thesis AFTER you have been granted leave to supplicate.

Version
You must deposit the final, passed version of your thesis which includes all corrections as
agreed with the examiners.

Other research works
If you wish to deposit other research materials in ORA (for example journal articles or
conference papers) please check with your supervisor first.


34

Voluntary deposit on ORA
Students completing M.Phil., B.Phil. or Master of Studies degrees may voluntarily deposit a
digital copy of their thesis in ORA.

Access to hardbound theses
For academic programmes requiring deposit of your thesis, the hardbound copy will be
stored in the Bodleian (or another Oxford) Library. It will have a catalogue record on OLIS
and visitors to the library will be able to read your thesis on site. All such theses were
previously sent to the British Library to be microfilmed and then made available to
requesters. This service is due to change in 2008 (see EThOS below). Any theses which have
been granted dispensation from consultation are not included in OLIS and are not made
available to readers either at Oxford or via the British Library.

Contact details
For additional information see www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/ora/etheses. For other concerns contact
ORA staff ORA@ouls.ox.ac.uk or 01865 283809 (office hours).


PART TIME D.PHIL.

Attendance requirements
Part time students are required to attend for a minimum of thirty days of university based
work each year, to be arranged with the agreement of the supervisor, for the period that
their name remains on the Register of Graduate Students unless individually dispensed by
the Graduate Studies Committee of the Theology Faculty Board.

Transfer of Status (part time)

Part-time D.Phil. students should apply to transfer their status not later than the beginning
of their seventh term, i.e. by Monday of 0th week. PRS status may, in exceptional cases, be
held for up to twelve terms, as allowed by University regulations. You should submit the
same as full-time students (see pages 19-20 of this handbook) and must attend an interview
in Oxford as part of the assessment.

Confirmation of Status (part time)

Part time D.Phil. students must apply to confirm their status no earlier than their twelfth
term and no later than their eighteenth term as a graduate student. The Faculty Board
expects part-time D.Phil. students to confirm their status by their fifteenth term. For
35

information on what to submit, please see pages 23-24 of this handbook. You must attend
an interview in Oxford as part of this assessment.


36

WRITING A SUBMITTED ESSAY, DISSERTATION OR THESIS

General considerations

Taught graduate courses as well as research degrees contain an element of dissertation- or
thesis-writing. The M.St. course contains a compulsory 10-15,000 word dissertation and up
to three shorter essays of 5,000 words each, the M.Phil. a compulsory 20,000 or 30,000
word thesis as well as the option of a 10-15,000 word dissertation and three shorter essays.
The M.Litt. and D.Phil. degrees are examined solely by thesis, of 50,000 and 100,000 words
respectively. The following general considerations apply to academic writing of all lengths.

Choice of subject

Because a thesis requires personal research and is intended to introduce you to exact
scholarly method in one or another of the different aspects of theological or religious study,
the subject must necessarily be carefully chosen and narrowly focused. Some students are
tempted to undertake subjects which are too vast to be completed within a reasonable time
and at the appropriate level. In working out a topic with one's supervisor it is important to
ensure that the correct balance is struck.

When choosing titles for the M.St. or M.Phil. courses, they should fall substantially within
the scope of your main subject area, though you could examine it in comparison to a
different subject area or discipline. You must consult with your supervisor and other
relevant authorities to see whether the proposed title is feasible.

As an example, a title that was regarded as too broad in scope for an MSt in the Study of
8 Suffering and Death in Hellenistic Religion and Patristic
^ l M
1 How did Pagan Thought Influence
hZen the Suffering and Death of Christ
and the Suffering and Death of Christians? A Study of Soteriology in Ignatius and Origen was
1
research interest to be given full rein, and would be done at a level of study and depth
M 1

Submitting an essay/thesis proposal to the Graduate Studies Assistant

Your proposal should include:

The essay/thesis title;
37

A 250 word outline of the substance of the essay/thesis: this would detail your aims
and methods, include brief chapter outlines, what you expect the general thrust of
the argument to be and what sort of original and theologically significant ideas you
feel you can bring to discussion on the subject;
A summary bibliography of between 10 (for short essays) and 30 or 40 (for research
theses) relevant works (it is expected that your eventual bibliography will be longer
than this!)
For those on taught graduate courses, a letter of support from your course
supervisor, indicating who will be acting as supervisor for the work.

The thesis itself

(a) The approach: The guidance of one's supervisor should be sought concerning the
particular needs of one's own work. A new research student will often do well, after
consultation with his supervisor, to make an early visit to the Bodleian Library to look at a
thesis on a related subject or involving relevant methods of treatment.

(b) Composition: The amount of time which you will need for this work varies, but you
should always assume that the actual writing of the thesis will take longer than you
suppose. It is natural to suppose that once the material is collected, composition is a
mechanical process. In fact this is seldom the case and you will find that composition itself
entails further research, at least in detail, and conclusions which have seemed firm in
advance often need further consideration.

The regulations about length must be strictly observed. However, you should not suppose
that you must, in justice to yourself or to your subject, necessarily attain the maximum
length. The model thesis displays as much evidence as is necessary to sustain its argument,
in as economical a form as can be managed without loss of weight or clarity. Discrimination
in the use of material is integral to a good dissertation.

(c) Style:

(1) Part of the statutory requirements for a D.Phil a
significant and substantial contribution in the particular field of learning within which the
subje . You
must not allow the bibliographical apparatus of the thesis to get out of hand. The most
important part of the thesis is the text: the notes, appendices, etc. should support it and not
overburden it. The practice of putting into footnotes information which cannot be digested
in the text can easily run to excess, cluttering the text and distracting the reader from the
essential argument.
38


(2) You should assume that examiners will be critical, but not hypercritical or
destructive. Positive statements should be documented according to their novelty: a novel
or paradoxical assertion naturally needs to be supported, a truism or accepted conclusion
does not. A common fault in thesis-writing is caused by the fear that an examiner will
object that you seem not to have read some totally unimportant article in some obscure
journal. In consequence of this fear, you may prolong your thesis and obscure your style by
accumulating unimportant allusions and conducting unimportant arguments in the text. This
should not be done. If the article is really unimportant, it can be ignored. At most it can be
mentioned in a footnote.

The presentation of a dissertation or thesis

The University's Examination Regulations govern the preparation and presentation of
theses, and you must consult the latest edition of the Examination Regulations for an
authoritative statement of the requirements regarding such matters as numbers of copies,
page layout, binding, format of the abstract and so on. Both you and any other person
involved in typing, printing or binding your thesis will need to be familiar with the
requirements.

The dissertation or thesis must not exceed the word limit and the word count does include
footnotes and endnotes but not the bibliography. An accurate statement of the number of
words (excluding bibliography) should accompany the thesis. A thesis which exceeds the
permitted length may be returned to you for abridgement.

If you, for special reasons (e.g. the need to quote at length from unpublished or inaccessible
sources), cannot confine yourself within the word limit, you should apply through your
supervisor to the Faculty Board for permission to exceed it by a stated number of words.
Such applications should normally be made not less than three months before the intended
date of the submission of the dissertation or thesis. Such permission, however, is granted
only in exceptional circumstances.

For M.Litt. or D.Phil. students in Theology, the thesis must be accompanied by two
abstracts, a shorter one of about 300 words required by the Humanities Divisional Board,
and two copies of a fuller one of between 1,000 and 1,500 words for an M.Litt, and between
1,500 and 2,500 words for a D.Phil., required by the Faculty Board. This is not necessary
when submitting a M.St. or M.Phil. dissertation or thesis.


39

On all matters of accepted conventions for the presentation of academic theses, you are
advised to consult a work such as Style Book: Notes for Authors, Editors, and Writers of
Dissertations, published by the Modern Humanities Research Association, London, 1981,
which is obtainable from academic booksellers and is available for consultation in the faculty
library. This deals with such matters as spelling, abbreviations, punctuation, quotations,
footnotes, references and other aspects of scholarly presentation.

Taking footnotes or endnotes as an example, you must acknowledge quoted sources in
footnotes, and when making the first reference to a book or article, use the following form
of footnote:

Books:
John Macquarrie, In Search of Humanity. A Theological and Philosophical Approach (London:
SCM Press), pp. 66-9 (alternatively the title could be underlined rather than italicised).

Academic Journal Articles:
S W S 1 8 S C 8 A P Literature and
Theology, 1 (1987), pp. 19-26, esp. p. 21

Magazine/newspaper articles:
C l New Society, 5 Feb. 1970

Articles in Edited Volumes:
u A S C C A 1 S l 1
Speaking the Christian God. The Holy Trinity and the Challenge of Feminism, ed. Alvin F.
Kimmel Jr. [, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1992], pp. 237-257, esp. pp. 240-1.

A
or, where appropriate, a shortening of it, e.g. Macquarrie, In Search of Humanity, p. 56. The
use of op cit. should be avoided (e.g. Macquarrie, op cit.) as this is confusing where there
are several works by the same author to which you have referred. You should avoid
conducting arguments in footnotes, but rather weave them into the main text.

You are strongly advised to take great care over English grammar and style. Supervisors
should not be expected to give time to corrections of such matters. Their concern is
properly with academic method and content. Simplicity and directness of style are desirable.
Technical vocabulary, where it has to be used, should always be carefully explained so that
examiners and other readers may know in what sense the writer is using it. Experience
suggests that often a major reason for referral is poor presentation. Every care should be
40

taken to ensure uniformity and accuracy of references. A good thesis can be spoilt by lack of
attention to detail in the final stages of completion.

The Faculty Board, as at the time of publication, actually imposes very few regulations on
format. Both submitted copi
(though there is no formal requirement for the type of font used it should be clear and
legible) and bound or held firmly within a stiff cover with the title page visible. A sample title
page follows (you may either photocopy this sample or produce your own), and, for
M L BY CANDIDATE NUMBER
ONLY; no names should appear. The work should be accompanied by a declaration, signed
by your supervisor, that it is all your own work and that no part has been submitted for any
other degree at Oxford or another institution. Any other style points are guidelines rather
than rules.

Some graduates have found the notes on the presentation of theses prepared by the
Faculty Board of History useful as they consider the presentation of their dissertation.
Graduates may care to consult this, though this is informal guidance only and is not
endorsed by the Faculty Board of Theology.

Change of title

In certain circumstances you may wish to make minor changes to the title of your
dissertation or thesis as your research evolves. In order to do this an application must be
made to the Graduate Studies Committee through Mr Martin Cameron, Graduate Studies
Assistant, Humanities Division, 37a St Giles, OX1 3LD. Students doing one of the taught
graduate courses merely need to submit the proposed change of title in writing, but
u ML C 1is
1 l -1
st
or 4
th
week.

The form is available online at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms

Plagiarism

Please consult the University guidance on plagiarism which can be found online at
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/epsc/plagiarism/index.shtml. Graduate students are strongly
advised to take the online anti-plagiarism course which is linked from the EdC website
(www.admin.ox.ac.uk/epsc/plagiarism). Access to this course is available via the SkillsPortal
website (www.skillsportal.ox.ac.uk). You will need to create a user account before taking an
online course.

41



FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

GRADUATE SUBMITTED WRITTEN WORK

Name:
College:
Candidate Number:
Year of Examination:

Dear Chair of Examiners,

l ng essay/thesis is all my own
work and that no part of it has been submitted for any other degree - either from the
University of Oxford or another institution.

Yours Sincerely





(Signature of Candidate)


Name of Supervisor:
College of Supervisor

As l





(Signature of Supervisor)

42

COVERSHEET FOR POSTGRADUATE ESSAY/THESIS


Candidate Number:



Examination:




Title:




Word Count:



I enclose with this essay a signed note from my supervisor in a separate sealed
envelope.




















43


EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCE

Paid employment

Full-time students are expected to be resident in Oxford during Full Term (i.e. weeks 1-8)
until the residence requirements of the degree have been fulfilled, and free to devote a
considerable part of the vacation to academic work. The research councils expect students
to work for 44 weeks in the year, and this may be taken as a good guideline.

Part-time students should be available to be in Oxford at least one day a week during term.
It is especially important that part-time students keep in regular contact with their
supervisor and college advisor or tutor.

The supervisor should always be informed beforehand if you propose to be absent for a
significant period of the term or to engage in activities in vacation which will restrict the
amount of academic work that can be done. The supervisor should offer advice on whether
this will interfere with academic progress, and this advice should be taken seriously. The
supervisor will normally mention such circumstances in the termly report.

Paid employment during statutory residence must be limited to a reasona -
undertaking. If employment is to occur during term, or if it is likely to occupy more than a
week or two of the vacation, the supervisor should be told, and given the opportunity to
advise on whether it will interfere with academic work.

The University does not define what it takes to be a reasonable amount of spare-time work.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council allows up to six hours a week of teaching for its
scholarship-holders, and this may be taken as a general guide.

Teaching by graduates

The Faculty has only limited opportunities for graduate involvement in teaching
undergraduates. Arrangements for tutorial teaching of undergraduates are made by
colleges. In order to assist colleges, the Faculty maintains a list of graduate students
approved by the Graduate Studies Committee to provide tuition in the various
undergraduate examination papers. You would be recommended to the Graduate Studies
Committee by your supervisor for inclusion on this list. Normally, graduate students
involved in tutorial teaching should be in or beyond their third year of graduate study in
Oxford.

44

Graduate students who are recommended for inclusion on the list of those approved to
offer tutorials must attend at least the first of the two training courses, which are part of
the CETL scheme, arranged by the Faculty as a condition of their inclusion. The first of these
is held annually at the beginning of Hilary Term and is offered in conjunction with the
Oxford Learning Institute (http://www.learning.ox.ac.uk/). The second involves partnering
tutor. The student will sit in on one tutorial towards
the beginning of term, and then offer a revision class at the end of the tutorial course. The
mentor tutor will be present for this class and evaluate performance, which will be passed
back through the Graduate Studies Assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies. Although
colleges are responsible for monitoring the performance of tutors from the vantage point of
the students receiving teaching, supervisors will discuss tutorial work undertaken by their
graduate students, and will submit a written report to the Graduate Studies Committee.

Financial sources

You are expected to have arranged financial support for the course before you arrive in
Oxford. The University attaches great importance to ensuring that this is sorted out well in
advance, as financial difficulties are chronic problems for graduates, and it is difficult to do
much by way of remedial help.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council.
In 2009 the AHRC changed the way in which it offers funding to postgraduate students in
the arts and humanities. The previous AHRC Open Competition for all applicants no longer
takes place; instead, funding is available through two routes: Block Grant Partnerships with
universities, and a new open competition for candidates at universities which do not have
studentships available under the AHRC Block Grant Partnership scheme.

The University of Oxford is participating in the AHRC Block Grant Partnership scheme, which
requires the University to submit a bid to the AHRC for fixed numbers of Master's and
Doctoral awards in a number of subject areas for a period of 5 years.

How to apply: As part of the new procedures, candidates are required to apply for AHRC
BGP studentships at the University of Oxford through the standard application process for
admission to a postgraduate programme (see:
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/ for full details on how to apply for
admission to the University of Oxford). To be considered for an AHRC studentship, you must
complete the relevant sections of the standard graduate application form (whether online
or on paper), and provide supporting material, where relevant, as described in the Oxford
AHRC Notes of Guidance.

45

Deadlines: Some programmes of study at the University of Oxford have more than one
deadline. If you wish to apply for an AHRC studentship, you must apply by the late January
Application Deadline

Notes of Guidance for applicants seeking to apply for AHRC BGP studentships at Oxford and
commencing graduate study from October 2010 are made available online at
http://www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/graduate_study/ahrc.

The AHRC take a strict line on research degrees that are not completed on time. Awards are
normally made for a three year period and the Council expect a thesis to be submitted by
September 30
th
of the fourth year since the award was made. This may mean that you will
need to take emergency measures (e.g. borrowing) to fund the last, unfunded year. The
AHRC do not make allowances for full-time employment in that year. A consistently bad
record of submission can result in the Faculty - and so future research students - being
penalised in competitions in future years. AHRC award holders MUST, therefore, submit
their thesis by the end of their fourth year.

Faculty Studentships.
The Faculty Board conducts an annual competition at the end of each Hilary Term for
studentship awards, using funds made available from the University and from various trust-
funds. These are normally available only for those expecting to proceed to a D.Phil. degree,
and fall into two types:

(a) Fully or partially funded three year studentships, open to applicants currently applying to
Oxford or who are in their first year of graduate study, either with PRS or with M.Phil.
status. These cover, wholly or in part, college and University fees and a maintenance
grant.

(b) One year studentships for applicants who hold D.Phil. status and are well advanced in
their research. These provide maintenance-assistance only.

Full details are announced each year at the beginning of Hilary Term. Please contact Mrs
Elizabeth Macallister, 34 St. Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LD, who is responsible for administering
graduate studentships.

Some awards under this scheme are made in conjunction with a college, and imply that the
successful student becomes a member of that college.

1 u Clarendon Fund conducts an annual competition for Studentship
awards for overseas students.
46


The Squire and Marriott Fund makes grants for maintenance (and/or fees) to persons
intending to be ordained in the Church of England, a church in communion with it, or
a church which is in ecumenical relations with it, or to persons who intend to serve
their church as theologians. Enquiries should be directed to the Secretary of the
Fund, currently Dr. Mark Chapman, Ripon College Cuddesdon, Oxon, OX44 9EX.

Most colleges have general funds available for special purposes (e.g. travel,
conferences) for which their own members may apply. Some will contribute to the
cost of producing a thesis. Some will help fund a final, unfunded year of a research
degree. Some colleges provide Senior Scholarships or Junior Research Fellowships in
which applicants in theology may compete alongside other applicants. A few provide
scholarships especially for theology.

The University Committee on Student Hardship considers applications from students
with financial difficulties during the course of their studies. Applications are
submitted through the college.

FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Language tuition

The Faculty offers some limited funding to research students for tuition in languages
relevant to their studies if tuition is not available via the University language centre. To
apply for this funding (up to a maximum of 200 per student in any given academic year)
you should send a statement of need, countersigned by your supervisor, to the Director of
Graduate Studies c/o The Graduate Studies Assistant for Theology, Humanities Division, 37a
St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LD by Friday of -1
st
week or 4
th
week of term.

Travel grants

The Faculty offers some limited discretionary funding to graduate students to reimburse the
cost of travel for reasons related to their research (for example to consult texts that may
only be available in a specialist library collection or to present a paper at an academic
conference). To apply for this funding (up to a maximum of 200 per student in any given
academic year), you should send a statement of need, countersigned by your supervisor, to
the Director of Graduate Studies, c/o The Graduate Studies Assistant for Theology,
Humanities Division, 37a St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LD by Friday of -1
st
week or 4
th
week of
term.

47

Oxford Theological Monographs

C C 1 l
is that those who complete doctorates in the Faculty are eligible to have their doctoral
theses considered for publication in the Oxford Theological Monographs series. The series
stands alongside others managed by Humanities Faculties in the University, such as the
History Faculty (the Oxford Historical Monographs): volumes are produce to the highest
publication standards of Oxford University Press, and although print runs are restricted, the
volumes ensure their author a distinguished academic debut on a worldwide stage and a
small but guaranteed worldwide market. There are few comparable publishing enterprises
in other universities anywhere in the Anglophone world.

The series is run by a Committee of the Faculty Board, charged with the responsibility of
choosing doctoral theses of exceptional merit undertaken within the Faculty, and reporting
to the Delegates of the University Press. It meets formally three times a year, receiving
L 8 u 1
relevant reports from other Faculties when these are drawn to its attention as being
potentially appropriate subjects. Examiners in Theology are encouraged to comment in their
reports on the suitability of a thesis for publication whether in the form of a monograph or
in articles. Currently the series is publishing three or four monographs a year.




















48

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT


Training and personal and professional development for graduate students in the
Humanities Division general information

The aim of professional development and training is to provide graduate students with the
means to become more effective in research, to build up a range of activities and practices
that contribute to personal and academic development and to enable graduate students to
make informed career choices.

Supervisors play a key role in identifying individual training needs and advising students on
sources of support. Students are encouraged to discuss their training needs with their
supervisors on a regular basis, and actively to seek opportunities for personal and
professional development.

The definition of training for graduate students encompasses subject-specific research skills
as well as and personal and professional development, preparation for academic practice
and career management. Training in research skills such as archival research, learning a
language, or taking an IT course can have a direct impact on the quality of doctoral research
and how long it takes to complete your thesis, as does training in project management and
information management.

Other training graduates may undertake, such as publishing, teaching or career preparation
may not directly impact on the research project, but are important in providing the
experience of integrating the research project with a range of other academic activities.
Some of the skills developed in teaching for example, such as planning and structuring a
course of teaching, the verbal communication of complicated ideas, or even basic time-
management, may have a positive impact on the doctoral research project and in the long
term will contribute to academic success.

There is no upper limit to the amount of training graduates may undertake. Activities
outside the immediate research project may in the first instance have a positive impact on
the research and allow graduates valuable time away from the project. However, graduates
are strongly advised not to take on extra-curricular activities to the extent that research
suffers, and to plan their training accordingly.

There are numerous sources of support for graduate training and professional development
available at Oxford:

Your faculty - www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/faculties_and_units - focuses on ensuring
that you have the requisite subject-specific research skills to successfully complete
your graduate degree. The faculty may also provide training of a more generic nature
not focused on your particular area of research, e.g. training in how to teach.
49


Humanities Division - www.humanities.ox.ac.uk/graduate_study - arranges training
sessions, presentations and workshops in a number of areas e.g. monograph
publication.

The Humanities Training Officer can answer any training-related enquiry or direct the
enquirer to the appropriate source of help: contact training@humanities.ox.ac.uk.

Careers Service - www.careers.ox.ac.uk/
Computing Service (OUCS) - www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/
Language Centre - www.lang.ox.ac.uk/
Library Service (OULS) - www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/
Oxford Learning Institute - www.learning.ox.ac.uk/
University Skills Portal - www.skillsportal.ox.ac.uk/ - lists training workshops and
seminars across the University, including a range of online courses
ASPIRE - www.aspire.ox.ac.uk/ASPIRE/ - u
planning tool which enables students to record, reflect on and plan activities and
achievements
Vitae www.vitae.ac.uk uk


Personal and professional development: framework for Humanities graduate students

The Humanities Division has developed a model for graduate researcher development
which positions a range of skills and knowledge acquired by students as part of their
doctoral studies in relationship to each other and to academic practice i.e. the things that
academics do.

Graduate study in the Humanities, especially at the D.Phil. level, is structured around the
principle of learning by doing. You learn how to do research by embarking single-handedly
on a major research project. Along the way you learn to write a conference abstract by
writing a conference abstract, to teach, by teaching, and to publish, by submitting your work
for publication.

You do not become a researcher and academic practitioner through a process of trial and
error, even if it sometimes feels like it. You have a research community and a range of
sources of support and training to draw on. Your supervisor is your first point of contact
and your guide to the research culture in which you are a C
support include academics and peers within your research community and training and
support services within and outside Oxford.

Subject-knowledge gained through research is only one element of researcher success.
Becoming a successful academic researcher requires learning how to engage in a range of
50

research, teaching and service activities and building the skills and knowledge associated
with those activities.

Knowing a subject will only take you so far when you come to teach that subject, to explain
it to peers or to the public, or to make a strong case for why it should be funded or
published. Still less will subject-knowledge help you to prepare for the daily activities of
most academics - representing your faculty on a university committee, mentoring academic
colleagues, providing pastoral care to students, organising a conference or conducting a
radio interview.

Researchers are valuable in the world outside academia precisely because of the high-level
knowledge skills they develop through completion of a substantial research project. But just
as subject knowledge is not the sole element of life as a practising academic, the world
outside academia demands a range of skills including the ability to work successfully with
others, self-efficacy and project management.

Graduate study can and should develop a range of high-level transferable skills that will
enable you successfully to complete your graduate studies and will contribute to success in
any field or career that you choose to pursue. However, it is crucial that you are able to:

Identify the personal and professional skills you are using and take up opportunities
to develop them

Draw on the training and development support available to you through your
faculty, the Humanities Division, or via University services (OUCS, OULS, Careers)

Understand, recognise and describe the skills and knowledge you have developed
e.g. in a CV

Provide concrete evidence of occasions when you have displayed your skills to good
effect.

Strike an appropriate balance between a range of academic and personal activities.


I S S ISS Uk k C
students

www.vitae.ac.uk/cms/files/RCUK-Joint-Skills-Statement-2001.pdf

Some years ago the UK Research Councils, which include the Arts and Humanities Research
Council (AHRC), published a statement describing the skills which they expect research
51

students to acquire. The framework developed by the Humanities Division see page 53 -
maps onto the skills listed in the Joint Skills Statement.

Doctoral research students funded by Research Councils (e.g. the AHRC) are expected to
develop the following skills during their research training:

(A) Research Skills and Techniques - be able to demonstrate:
1. the ability to recognise and validate problems
2. original, independent and critical thinking, and the ability to develop theoretical
concepts
3. a knowledge of recent advances within one's field and in related areas
4. an understanding of relevant research methodologies and techniques and their
appropriate application within one's research field
5. the ability to critically analyse and evaluate one's findings and those of others
6. an ability to summarise, document, report and reflect on progress

(B) Research Environment - be able to:
1. show a broad understanding of the context, at the national and international level,
in which research takes place
2. demonstrate awareness of issues relating to the rights of other researchers, of
research subjects, and of others who may be affected by the research, e.g. confidentiality,
ethical issues, attribution, copyright, malpractice, ownership of data and the requirements
of the Data Protection Act
3. demonstrate appreciation of standards of good research practice in their institution
and/or discipline
4. understand relevant health and safety issues and demonstrate responsible working
practices
5. understand the processes for funding and evaluation of research
6. justify the principles and experimental techniques used in one's own research
7. understand the process of academic or commercial exploitation of research results

(C) Research Management - be able to:
1. apply effective project management through the setting of research goals,
intermediate milestones and prioritisation of activities
2. design and execute systems for the acquisition and collation of information through
the effective use of appropriate resources and equipment
3. identify and access appropriate bibliographical resources, archives, and other
sources of relevant information
4. use information technology appropriately for database management, recording and
presenting information

(D) Personal Effectiveness - be able to:
1. demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn and acquire knowledge
52

2. be creative, innovative and original in one's approach to research
3. demonstrate flexibility and open-mindedness
4. demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to identify own training needs
5. demonstrate self-discipline, motivation, and thoroughness
6. recognise boundaries and draw upon/use sources of support as appropriate
7. show initiative, work independently and be self-reliant

(E) Communication Skills - be able to:
1. write clearly and in a style appropriate to purpose, e.g. progress reports, published
documents, thesis
2. construct coherent arguments and articulate ideas clearly to a range of audiences,
formally and informally through a variety of techniques
3. constructively defend research outcomes at seminars and viva examination
4. contribute to promoting the public understanding of one's research field
5. effectively support the learning of others when involved in teaching, mentoring or
demonstrating activities

(F) Networking and Teamworking - be able to:
1. develop and maintain co-operative networks and working relationships with
supervisors, colleagues and peers, within the institution and the wider research community
2. understand one's behaviours and impact on others when working in and
contributing to the success of formal and informal teams
3. listen, give and receive feedback and respond perceptively to others

(G) Career Management - to be able to:
1. appreciate the need for and show commitment to continued professional
development
2. take ownership for and manage one's career progression, set realistic and achievable
career goals, and identify and develop ways to improve employability
3. demonstrate an insight into the transferable nature of research skills to other work
environments and the range of career opportunities within and outside academia
4. present one's skills, personal attributes and experiences through effective CVs,
applications and interviews.



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Appendix A

GRADUATE FORMS
Available at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms

Forms and notes relating to Transfer of Status

GSO.2

Application for Transfer of Status. To be used for transfer from PRS to
MLitt. or DPhil. status; for transfer from MLitt. to DPhil. status or for
transfer from DPhil. to MLitt. status.

Forms and notes relating to Confirmation of D.Phil. Status

GSO.14 Application for Confirmation of D.Phil. Status.
GSO.14A Confirmation of D.Phil. Status - Supplementary Information
GSO.14B Application for Deferral of Confirmation of D.Phil. Status

Miscellaneous forms

GSO.6 Application for Change of Thesis Title (MLitt. or DPhil.)
GSO.8 Application for Dispensation from Statutory Residence
GSO.15 Application for Extension of Time (MLitt. or DPhil.)
GSO.17 Application for Suspension of Status
GSO.17a Return from suspension of status
GSO.23 Application for Reinstatement as a Graduate Student
GSO.25 Application for a Change of Supervisor or Appointment of a Co-
Supervisor
GSO.28 Change of Programme of Study
GSO.29 Notification of Withdrawal from Programme of Study
GSO.30 Notification of change of personal details, e.g. name or title

Forms & notes relating to the examination of research degrees
All of the following documents are required:

GSO.3 Application for Appointment of Examiners for DPhil. or MLitt.
GSO.3A Deposit and Consultation of an MLitt. or DPhil. Thesis. This should be
submitted to the Graduate Studies Office with the library copy of the
thesis and is required before a thesis can be deposited in the Bodleian.
GSO.3B Deposit and Consultation of an MPhil. Thesis. This should be submitted
55
to the Graduate Studies Office with the library copy of the thesis and is
required before a thesis can be deposited in the Bodleian
GSO.26 Thesis Cataloguing Form for MPhil., MLitt. or DPhil. This should be
submitted to the Graduate Studies Office with the library copy of the
thesis and is used by the Bodleian for thesis cataloguing.

The following documents may also be required:

GSO.16 Application for an Early Examination
GSO.18 Application for Extension of Time to complete Minor Corrections for
MLitt. or DPhil. (after the viva has been held)
GSO.3C Application for dispensation from Consultation of Thesis
M.Litt./D.Phil./M.Sc.

The following guidance notes are also available at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms:

GSO.20 Notes on Submission of Theses and Examination
GSO.21 Notes on the Preparation and Submission of Theses
56
Appendix B

MEMORANDUM FOR SUPERVISORS AND RESEARCH STUDENTS

Safety and Health

Supervisors of all students, whether in the arts or in the sciences, should consider carefully the
safety implications of their students' research. Those supervising students (particularly those in
the sciences) are responsible for all aspects of safety under their control, and in particular for the
safe conduct of all experiments carried out in the course of their students' research. In the event
of an accident, inadequate supervision may render the supervisor liable to prosecution.
Supervisors should also ensure that their students are made aware that in the event of injury to
other persons as a result of their negligence, the student could be subject to civil claims for
damages. Advice on the legal responsibilities for safety may be obtained from the University
Safety Officer. For their part, students must carry out research with proper regard to good health
and safety practices. Supervisors and students should be aware of the need for adequate health
insurance and health precautions when travelling abroad. In case of doubt, reference should be
made to the University Medical Officer.

Academic responsibilities

Responsibilities of the supervisor

1. Where practicable, the supervisor should assign the student some directed reading before
arrival. This might be of a general background nature so as to put the student in a position to
discuss the topic with the supervisor soon after arrival, or it might form the start of a literature
survey. The supervisor is required to make an appointment for a meeting with the new student
not later than the first week of Full Term.

2. The supervisor is responsible for giving early advice about the nature of research and the
standard expected, and about the planning of the research programme. The supervisor should
ensure that, where the student's research forms part of a funded research programme, sufficient
financial support will be available for the duration of the student's period of study; if there is any
doubt, he or she should agree with the student an alternative fallback project at an early stage.
The supervisor is also responsible for advising the student about literature and sources,
attendance at classes, and requisite techniques (including helping to arrange instruction where
necessary). The supervisor should discuss with the student the lecture list for his or her subject
and related lecture lists.

57
3. The supervisor is expected to identify (in conjunction with the Director of Graduate
Studies for the faculty, sub-faculty or department) two colleagues, where possible, but if not one
colleague, for limited consultation by the supervisee during his/her first year of research. The
supervisor should make the appropriate arrangements for the initial approach by the supervisee
to .

4. Where the thesis is likely to involve statistical analysis or tabulation of numerical results,
the supervisor should arrange for the student to obtain advice, at an early stage, about the design
of any experiment or the collection and storage of data, and about its consequent analysis.

5. The supervisor should ensure that the student works within a planned framework which
marks out the stages which the student should be expected to have completed at various points
in his or her period of study. The nature of the framework will of course vary widely from subject
to subject, but in all subjects the formulation of the topic, planning and careful management of
time should begin at an early stage. Particular attention should be given to the selection and
refinement of the research topic, which in the case of the D.Phil. should be one which a diligent
student may reasonably be expected to complete within three (or at most four) years of full-time
study.

6. The supervisor should meet with the student regularly. Times should be fixed to ensure
that a busy supervisor does not inadvertently find that meetings are less frequent than the
student would like, and to give sufficient time for the student to discuss the work and for the
supervisor to check that certain things have been done. The supervisor should also be accessible
to the student at other appropriate times when advice is needed. The supervisor should also
request written work as appropriate and in accordance with the plan discussed with the student.
Such work should be returned with constructive criticism and in reasonable time.

7. The supervisor should tell the student from time to time how well, in the supervisor's
opinion, work is getting on, and try to ensure that the student feels properly directed and able to
communicate with the supervisor.

8. The supervisor is required to report to the faculty board on the student's work (three)
times a year, once at the end of each term, in the case of a research student or a student on a
taught course lasting more than a year; and three times a year in the case of a graduate student
on a taught course lasting a year or less. Each report should state the nature and extent of recent
contact with the student, and, if there has been none, state why this is so. The report should also
make clear whether the student is making satisfactory progress, bearing in mind that a D.Phil.
thesis should normally be completed within three years of full-time research. Any student who
has not satisfied his or her supervisor on at least one occasion in an academic year that he or she
is making progress will have his or her name removed from the register.
58

9. The supervisor should aim to ensure that by the end of the first year the topic or goal of
the student's research is clearly defined, that the student has the necessary background
information, and that the required resources are available. The supervisor must have ascertained
by then that the student can write a coherent account of his/her work in good English.

10. The supervisor should try to ensure that unnecessary delays do not occur. These have
been known to arise, for example, for reasons such as the following:

(a) insufficient effort at the outset in choosing and formulating the research topic;
(b) a slow start because of the time taken to adjust to research work;
(c) distractions from the main line of inquiry;
(d) superfluous attempts to tie up every loose end;
(and mainly in the sciences)
(e) inadequate and delayed planning and assembly of apparatus and equipment;
(f) insufficient collection or recording of data at an early stage, so that work has to be
repeated in the later stages.

11. The supervisor should arrange for students to have the opportunity to discuss their
research with other staff and students in their subject area (see also (3) above).

12. Where a student undertakes research as part of a team or group the supervisor should
ensure that this is in full awareness of the way in which the student's own contribution fits into
the work of the remainder of the group.

13. The supervisor should not be absent on leave unless appropriate temporary supervision
has been arranged for the student.

Responsibilities of the student

1. The student should discuss with the supervisor the type of guidance and comment which
he/she finds most helpful, and agree a schedule of meetings.

2. The student should not hesitate to take the initiative in raising problems or difficulties,
however, elementary they may seem.

3. The student should seek to maintain progress in accordance with the plan of work agreed
with the supervisor, including in particular the presentation of the required written material in
sufficient time for comment and discussion before proceeding to the next stage. As groundwork
for the thesis, the student should as soon as possible write rough drafts of possible chapters.
59
Students in the sciences should keep a systematic record of all that has been attempted and
accomplished.

4. The student should recognise that a supervisor may have many competing demands on
his/her time. The student should hand in work in good time to the supervisor and give adequate
notice of unscheduled meetings. The need for adequate notice also applies to requests for
references from the supervisor.

5. If the student feels that there are good grounds for contemplating a change of supervision
arrangements, this should first be discussed with the supervisor or, if this seems difficult, with the
appropriate head of department, director of graduate studies or their deputies, or college adviser.

6. The student should provide regular reports on his/her progress to the faculty board in
accordance with the requirements of the Committee for Graduate Studies of the General Board.
The student must satisfy the supervisor on his or her progress at least once a year and should
inform the supervisor at once if work on the thesis is abandoned.

7. The student should ensure that the standard of his/her English is sufficient for the
presentation of a thesis. Students whose first language is not English should take advice on this.

8. The student should ensure that he/she allows adequate time for writing up the thesis,
taking the advice of the supervisor. Particular attention should be paid to final proof-reading.

9. It is the student's responsibility to decide when he/she wishes to submit the thesis for
examination, after taking due account of the supervisor's opinion, though this is only advisory. It
is in the student's interests to ensure that the final version has been made available to the
supervisor.

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Appendix C

COMPLAINTS IN RELATION TO HIGHER DEGREES INVOLVING RESEARCH: PROCTORS'
MEMORANDUM

By virtue of the University Statutes the Proctors are empowered to investigate complaints, and are
responsible for seeing that university examinations are properly and fairly conducted. On receiving
a complaint concerning a graduate examination involving research (for which the Proctors
conclude that there is a prima facie case for an investigation), the Proctors have the power to
summon any member of the University to help them in their enquiries; the candidate is entitled to
appear before the Proctors to put his or her case and may be accompanied by a friend or adviser.
You will find the current procedures for investigation of complaints by the Proctors under Section
22 of Statute IX on the University website (http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/247-
062.shtml). You should refer to this site for the most up to date information should you have a
grievance to report.


61
Appendix D

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT: STUDENTS

The University of Oxford and its colleges aim to provide education of excellent quality at
undergraduate and postgraduate level for able students, whatever their background. In pursuit of
this aim, the University is committed to using its best endeavours to ensure that all students are
helped to achieve their full academic potential. This statement applies to recruitment and
admissions, to the curriculum, teaching and assessment, to welfare and support services, and to
staff development and training.

Recruitment and admissions

Decisions on admissions are based solely on the individual merits of each candidate, their
suitability for the course they have applied to study (bearing in mind any requirements laid down
by any professional body), assessed by the application of selection criteria appropriate to the
course of study. Admissions procedures are kept under regular review to ensure compliance with
this policy.

We seek to admit students of the highest academic potential. All colleges select students for
admission without regard for sex, marital or civil partnership status, race, ethnic origin, colour,
religion, sexual orientation, social background or other irrelevant distinction.

Applications from students with disabilities are considered on exactly the same academic grounds
of those from other candidates. We are committed to making arrangements whenever practicable
to enable such students to participate as fully as possible in student life. Details of these
u u S
provided on request by colleges or by the University Disability Co-ordinator.

In order to widen access to Oxford, the University and colleges support schemes which work to
encourage applicants from groups that are currently under-represented. The undergraduate
Admissions Office can provide details of current schemes.

None of the above shall be taken to invalidate the need for financial guarantees where
appropriate.

The curriculum, teaching and assessment

Unfair discrimination based on individual characteristics (listed in the statement on recruitment
and admissions above) will not be tolerated. University departments, faculties, colleges and the
62
central quality assurance bodies monitor the curriculum, teaching practice and assessment
methods. Teaching and support staff have regard to the diverse needs, interests and backgrounds
of their students in all their dealings with them.

Welfare and support services

Colleges have the lead responsibility for student welfare and can provide details of arrangements
made to support their students. The University, in addition, provides for all students who require
such support:
A counselling service,
Childcare advice
Disability assessment and advice, and
A harassment advisory service

l A Essential
Information for Students, which is updated annually.

Staff development and training

The University, through its Oxford Learning Institute, will provide appropriate training
programmes to support this statement.

Complaints

A candidate for admission who considers that he or she has not been treated in accordance with
this policy, should raise this with the college concerned (or department in the case of graduate
admission). Students in the course of their studies may use the student complaints procedure,
and should, in the first instance, lodge their complaint with the Proctors, who will advise on the
procedure to be followed thereafter. The Committee on Diversity and Equal Opportunity monitors
complaints made by students.